Tarvaris Jackson has ‘high-grade’ pectoral strain, status still murky

Tarvaris Jackson's status is still uncertain for the Cleveland game in Week 7. (AP Photo)

RENTON — Tarvaris Jackson headlined a long list of Seahawks injuries on Monday as they head into their bye week.

And not just because he’s the quarterback, either. The severity of Jackson’s high-grade pectoral strain — suffered on the right, throwing side of his chest — still isn’t known, and coach Pete Carroll said Jackson won’t take any snaps this week in practice.

Seattle practices Tuesday and Wednesday before taking the rest of the week off and returning to work on Monday.

“He had an MRI and it showed that there was some stuff there and we just have to see how he responds,” Carroll said. “He did rehab today. He felt better today than he did yesterday, but we won’t know. We’re not going to know for a while. We won’t have him throw the football for a little bit and see what happens.”

Jackson suffered the injury on a read-option running play early in the third quarter of Sunday’s 36-25 win over the New York Giants. Jackson kept the ball and gained 11 yards as he surged forward and absorbed a hit.

Carroll wasn’t too pleased with that, saying he wished Jackson would have slid. Though one must question the wisdom of calling a play that leaves open the option for the quarterback to run the ball and take said hit(s).

“I’m still mad at him for running and getting hit when he could have gotten down,” Carroll said.

Beyond the injury diagnosis, Carroll didn’t have much to add about Jackson’s status or potential availability for the Seahawks’ Week 7 game at Cleveland. Asked if it’s possible Jackson could play that game, Carroll, ever the optimist, said he thinks it is.

“We’re going to hold out the chance that Tarvaris can get back. We’ll just have to see how the rehab goes,” Carroll said.

“If you’re going to ask me, I’m going to say sure, it’s possible.”

So Charlie Whitehurst will take the snaps with the starting offense in practice this week. Whitehurst completed 11 of 19 passes in relief of Jackson on Sunday, leading three scoring drives including the go-ahead touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin with 2:37 to play in the game.

“We got a really good performance from Charlie yesterday, did the things we needed to do to keep the game moving and had enough there that finished it off and get the touchdown drive that we needed to win the football game,” Carroll said. “We’re really pleased about that.”

What’s less pleasing, though, is the volume of players the Seahawks will have to cycle through the training room this week.

Tight end Zach Miller had an MRI on his neck Monday after taking a vicious hit from Giants safety Kenny Phillips. The results of the MRI hadn’t returned yet when Carroll addressed reporters on Monday.

Linebacker Jameson Konz will need surgery to repair an ACL injury suffered in the game. Linebacker Leroy Hill will sit out the next couple days of practice with what Carroll termed a “mild” hamstring injury, but should be fine to play against Cleveland. The same goes for receiver Mike Williams, who sat out Sunday’s game with a concussion but is expected to be OK for Week 7.

The status of cornerback Marcus Trufant is less certain. Trufant suffered a bruised sacrum (that’s a back injury, for those who still haven’t completed medical school) against Atlanta last week, an injury that didn’t effect him until the middle of Wednesday’s practice, Carroll said.

But come Sunday, Trufant couldn’t even tie his shoelaces. MRI results are pending.

“We don’t know how soon that goes away or what that’s going to be like,” Carroll said.

OK, that’s it. No. Wait. One more. Running back Marshawn Lynch was still hobbling on Monday after spraining his ankle on the first play from scrimmage against the Giants. Lynch returned and managed 98 yards on 12 carries, an impressive performance considering the circumstances. He won’t practice this week.